Headlight for vehicles



1935- F. HAMM HEADLIGHT FOR VEHICLES Filed Dec. 16, 1955 INVENTOR Fred Ham: BY I ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 4, 1936 .UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- 1 V V 2,049,802 v HEADLIGHTFOR VEHICLES v Fred Hamm, Milwaukee, Wis. I v

Application December 16, 1935, Serial No. 54,627 9 Claims. v(c1. 240-623) k "This invention relates to new anduseful improvements in headlights for vehicles.

The invention has for an object the provision of a mechanism' by which the headlights are 5 automatically moved during the steering of the vehicle to facilitate the illumination of theroad upon which the vehicle is travelling.

Another object of the invention is the con Y struction of a device as mentioned which is simple and durable and which may be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention,-

mechanism for operating the headlights.

Fig. "3 is a sectional view as though taken on i, the line 33 ofFig. 2, but showing the wheel and steering column'of the vehicle in greater detail.

.The light projecting device for vehicles, according to this invention, includes a pair of headlights l9 and l on the sides of the motor vehicle l2 having a conventional steering wheel |3 connected with a steering column l4. The other details of the steering mechanism of the vehicle, or the vehicle itself, are conventional and for this reason will not be described in this specification. I I T The headlights l and II are pivotally mount ed by pintles l5 upon casings l6 which are con nected with each other by a transverse casing H. The arrangement is such that the headlights"! and I I may swing to the right or left, in the horizontal. I r. A cylinder I8 with a, piston I9 which is con- Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the nected by linkage with each of said head lights, is adapted to pivot the headlights when properly operated with air. There are springs 2| in the cylinders l8 which act between the pistons l9 and the cylinders for normally urging the headlights to their normal position directed substantially forwards. Stop lugs22 are mounted upon some stationary part adjacent the head lamps and are adapted to limit inward motion of the head lamps to thesaid normal'positions.

Thus, the headlamp I0 may only pivot towards the left, while the right headlamp 'll 'may'only 5Q pivottowards the right. I a

the cylinders l8. Said pistons 24 in the pilot cyl- 5 I inders control the passage of air through the several restricted pipes. An air tank 26 for a supply of air has pipes 21, extended to the pilot cylinders 23 and the pipes 21 enter the cylinders at the inner ends at which ends they are normally closed by the pistons 24 so that the air is restrained from passing through the restrained pipe 25?, 25 and 25. The tank 26 is supplied with air by a pipe 28 which connects with'a compressor (not shown) connected with theengine of the vehicle (also not shown). 7 I The pistons 24 are providedwith stems 29 which are connected by resilientelements 39, such as helical springs,with 'a bar 3| which is slidably supported by tracks 32. Means connect- 0. ed with the steering column |4' of the vehicle are adapted to move the bar 3| in one direction or theother direction, depending on the direction of steering. Y

There is a pinion 33 fixed upon the steering 25 column |4"which normally meshes with rack teeth 3| upon the slidable bar 3|. This pinion 33 has a grooved collar 34' which is engaged by a fork 35 upon the 'end of the control rod 36 which passes through a friction device 31 mounted upon the casing 330i the steering column 4. The upper end of the rod 36 connects with one end of a lever 39 which is pivotally mounted at 49 on a lug 4| mounted on the casing 38. The lever 39 may-bemoved to slide the pinion 33 out of contact with the rack teeth 3| The pinion 33 is 'spliced or keyed on the columnl4. I

Each of the restrained pipes 25, 25 and 25 are restrictedby an adjustable needle valve 42 interposed therein. A bar 43 at'right angles to the bar 3| is pivotally connected therewith and is pivotally connected at the other end 43 upon a support 44 attached on the casing Balanced springs 45 and 4B are connected with opposite sides of the bar 43 and act between-stationary lugs 41 projecting from the support 44 so that the bar 43 is normally urged into aneutralfposition, which position corresponds with thenormal' position of the slidable bar 3|.

The operationof the. device is as follows:- When the steering wheel I3 is turned towards the left the bar 3| will be moved towards the left andthe stem 29 will be" moved inwards. 'The spring 30 on the right hand end of the bar 3| 55;

will merely stretch, but will not move the stem to which it is attached. Upon a comparatively slight turn towards the left, the piston 24 at the left will move slightly to the position indicated by the dot and dash lines 24 to expose the restricted pipe 25 The compressed air from the line 21 will then partially discharge into the cylinder l8 and the piston 19 will move forwards compressing the spring 2| to a certain extent, and immediately pivoting the. headlamp, ID a certain angular distance towards the left. If the steering wheel I3 is turned further towards'the left the piston 24 will soon reach the position, indicated by the dot and dash lines 2, and now both of the restricted pipes 25Prand d5Prwill be exposed to the air from the line 21. This will insure further pivoting the lamp l0 another step towards the left. If the wheel'l3 is turned further towards the left the piston 24 will reach the position 24* and now all three of' the restricted pipes 15, 25 and 25 will'be exposed The lamp HI is-thenmoved still further towards,

the left.

Similarly, if the steering wheel l3 is-moved towards the right, the right lamp Llwill be moved' in :severalsteps towardsthe rightldepending merely upon the extentto whichthe steering wheel [3 is turned.

The device may vbe renderedinoperative at .a moments noticeso thatthe springs 21 will re.- turn the-lamps to the normalpositions, by moving the lever 39., Thisrwill-disconnect the pinion 33'from therack. 3P. The-springs=- and 45 will then bring the vlamps-baclcto thesaid normalpositi'ons. Thegear 33 maybe re-engaged with the rack 3| when. thesteering wheel I3 is in a positionin which the vehicle is travelling straight forwards.

While-I have illustrated and describedthe preferred-embodiment of my invention, itissto be,

understood that-I do notlimit-myself to: the precise-construction herein disclosed and the right. is reserved toallchangesand modiiicationscoming within the scope of the invention as defined in the: appended claims;

Havingthusdescribed my invention, what .I claim as new, and desire to secure by United StatesLetters Patent is a d Imcombination 'withna motor vehicle, a .pair or headlights :onthe sides-of said motor vehicle and pivotally supported to swingright-or left. in thehorizontal, a cylinder with a piston connected-by-linkage with eachof said headlights to pivot wsaid; headlights, springs in said cylinders for normally urging said headlights tobe directed straight forwards; a pilot-cylinder for each of. said xcyli-nders, pistons in. said pilot, cylinders, several restricted pipe lines from different parts ofrsaid pilot cylinders connecting with said -eylinders,. an air supply to the ,pilot. cylinders,v said pistons with the pilot cylinders controlling the passage of air to said restricted pipe lines,., a slidablezbar. resiliently connected with ,each of thepistonsinthe pilot cylinders, and meanstconnected with the steering columnofsaid vehicle for movring. said barin one. direction orthe other depending upon the, directionof steering,

2. .In combination with a motorvehicle a,pair of -.headlights .on the. sides of .said motor vehicle and pivotally supported to-swing-rightorleftin thehorizon-tal a cylinder with-a piston connect-V ed by linkage-with 'each-of said headlights to pivot 'saidizhead-lights; springs :in said cylinders forznormallyl urging; saidiiheadlights to: be directed straight forwards; :a; pilot cylinder each .limited by a stop to pivot towards the right only,

and the lamp at the left side of the vehicle being alimite'dby astop to pivot towards the left only.

3. In combination with a motor vehicle, a pair of'headlightson the sides of said motor vehicle gandipivotally supported to swing right or left in the horizontal, a cylinder with a piston connected by linkage with each of said headlights to pivot said headlights, springsin said cylinders, forinormally urging said headlights to be directed straightforwards; a; pilot cylinder .for eacht'of said cylinders, pistons in saidpilot cylinders, several restricted pipe-lines from difierent parts of said pilot. cylinders. connecting with said cylinders, :an-

air supply to the pilot cylinders, said? pistons:

within the pilot-cylinders controlling the-passage of air .tosaid restrictedpipe lines, a-slidable bar resiliently connected with each of thepistons in the pilot cylinders, and means connected with;

thet-steering column ofsaid vehiclefor moving said bar in one'direction or the other depending upon the directionor steering, said restricted,

pipes havingneedle'valves by which the restriction maybe controlled.

4. In combination with a motor -vehicle,,-.a;pai-rof headlights on the sides of said motor vehicle and pivotally supported to; swing. rightor left: in; the horizontal, a cylinder with a. piston connected bytlinkage with each of said. headlightsrto' pivot said headlights, springsinsaid cylinders: for normally, urging said'fheadlig'hts to be directed straightforwards, a, pilot cylinder for eaehiof' said cylinders-,., pistons in .said pilotcylinders, several restrictedpipe lines from: different. parts of" said pilot cylinders connecting with said cylinders, an airisupply to: the;pilot cylinders, saidpistons within. the pilot cylinders controlling the passage of air to'salid restricted pipe lines, a slidable bar resiliently connected with each of'the pistonsninthepilot cylinders, and means connected with the: steering column of said vehicle .fonmoving said her onerdirection or the other depending. upon the direction of steering, springs being interposed between theislidable bar and the pistons ot the pilot cyiinders for 1 constitutingsaid resilient-connectionbetween-these' parts. 7

' 5. In" OOmIbiHEtiOHTWithY a motor vehicle,;a: pairof. headlights :on the sides of saidimotor vehicle and pivotally supported to swing right orlleft. in thelhorizontal a cylinder with a piston-connected byrlinkage with; each of said'headlights topivot saidihea'dlights, :springs in said cylinders 'for' normally iurging rsai'd', headlights to' be directed straight lforwards, a pilot cylinder for :each of said cylinders, pistons in said pilot cylinders, several restricted-pipe lines from different parts of saiidupilot cylinders connecting with said *cyli'nders,ran air supply to the ,pilot'cylinders, said pistons withincthelpilot: cylinders controlling the passage of sair-to-said restricted pipe lines, a-slidableybarresiliently connected with-eachof the pistons in the-,pilot..-cylinders, and-means connected with the steering column oizsaid vehicle for moving said bar in one direction or the other depending upon the direction of steering, comprising a gear on the steering column meshing with a rack on said slidable bar.

6. In combination with a motor vehicle, a pair of headlights on the sides of said motor vehicle and pivotally supported to swing right or left in the horizontal, a cylinder with a piston connected by linkage with each of said headlights to pivot said headlights, springs in said cylinders for normally urging said headlights to be directed straight forwards, a pilot cylinder for each of said cylinders, pistons in said pilot cylinders, several restricted pipe lines from different parts of said pilot cylinders connecting with said cylinders, an air supply to the pilot cylinders, said pistons Within the pilot cylinders controlling the passage of air to said restricted pipe lines, a slidable bar resiliently connected with each of the pistons in the pilot cylinders, means connected with the steering column of said vehicle for moving said bar in one direction or the other depending upon the direction of steering, comprising a gear on the steering column meshing with a rack on said slidable bar, and means for disconnecting said gear from the rack.

'7. In combination with a motor vehicle, a pair of headlights on the sides of said motor vehicle and pivotally supported to swing right or left in the horizontal, a cylinder with a piston connected by linkage with each of said headlights to pivot said headlights, springs in said cylinders for normally urging said headlights to be directed straight forwards, a pilot cylinder for each of said cylinders, pistons in said pilot cylinders, several restricted pipe lines from different parts of said pilot cylinders connecting with said cylinders, an

air supply to the pilot cylinders, said pistons within the pilot cylinders controlling the passage of air to said restricted pipe lines, a slidable .bar resiliently connected with each of the pistons in the pilot cylinders, means connected with the steering column of said Vehicle for moving said bar in one direction or the other depending upon the direction of steering, comprising a gear on the steering column meshing with a rack on said slidable bar, and means for disconnecting said gear from the rack, comprising a rod connected with a handle by which it may be moved, and said rod being connected with said gear which is slidable on said steering column.

8. In combination with a motor vehicle, a pair of headlights on the sides of said motor vehicle and pivotally supported to swing right or left in the horizontal, a cylinder with a piston connected by linkage with each of said headlights to pivot said headlights, springs in said cylinders for normally urging said headlights to be directed straight forwards, a pilot cylinder for each of said cylinders, pistons in said pilot cylinders, several restricted pipe lines from different parts of said pilot cylinders connecting with said cylinders, an air supply to the pilot cylinders, said pistons within the pilot cylinders controlling the passage of air to said restricted pipe lines, a

slidable bar resiliently connected with'each of the pistons in the pilot cylinders, means connected with the steering column of said vehicle for moving said bar in one direction or the other depending upon the direction of steering, comprising a gear on the steering column meshing with a rack on said slidable bar, means for disconnecting said gear from the rack, comprising a rod connected with a handle by which it may be moved, said rod being connected With said gear which is slidable on said steering column, and means for returning said slidable bar to its neutral position.

9. In combination with a motor vehicle, a pair of headlights on the sides of said motor vehicle and pivotally supported to swing right or left in the horizontal, a cylinder with a piston connected by linkage with each of said headlights to pivot said headlights, springs in said cylinders for normally urging said headlights to be directed 7 straight forwards, a pilot cylinder for each of said cylinders, pistons in said pilot cylinders, several restricted pipe lines from different parts of said pilot cylinders connecting withsaid cylinders, an air supply to the pilot cylinders, said pistons within the pilot cylinders controlling the passage of air to said restricted pipe lines, a slidable bar resiliently connected with each of the pistons in the pilot cylinders, means connected with the steering column of said vehicle for moving said bar in one direction or the other depending upon the direction of steering, comprising a gear on the steering column meshing with a rack on said slidable bar, means for disconnecting said gear irom the rack, comprising a rod connected with a handle by which it may be moved, said rod being connected with said gear which is slidable on said steering column, and means for returning said slidable bar to its neutral position, comprising a bar pivotally supported at one end and pivotally connected at the other end with said slidable bar and disposed at right angles thereto, and balanced springs acting against the sides of said pivoted bar to urge it into a neutral position.

FRED HAMJVI. 

